Ch.2525. Wings Have Sprouted on My Shoulders, Now It’s Time to Flap Them.

“I received the Pale Fruit very well.”

“It’s just a small token of appreciation from your youngest son to his father.”

Baron Byron’s gaze shifted toward Baron René, the head of the Familia household.

Then, with a hearty laugh, he slapped my back forcefully.

“Hahaha!! I simply cannot understand why our youngest son, who is so filial, was ever rumored to be a good-for-nothing!!”

Baron René, seated next to Baron Byron in the reception room, nodded in agreement while holding his teacup.

“Indeed, rumors cannot be trusted. Since you’ve kept your youngest son hidden away, Baron Byron, I too had misunderstood.”

“This boy may be more shy than he appears, but he always does what needs to be done.”

What’s wrong with this father of mine today?

Did he eat something strange?

My fourth brother, Leonard, seemed increasingly stiff-faced at the endless praise being showered upon me.

“Father, it seems our brother Selden has learned quite a lot during his exile.”

Oh, look at that?

He deliberately brings up the word “exile”?

No matter how much you dislike me being praised, bringing it up like this changes things, you know.

I cleared my throat and flicked my thumb and middle finger.

At that, Padericks pushed forward a wooden box he had prepared in advance to Baron René.

“What’s this?”

“You may open it.”

Upon opening the wooden box, there was a large glass bottle filled with red liquid.

Baron René still looked puzzled and turned his gaze toward me.

“I still don’t know what this is.”

“It’s Pale Tree fruit extract. It’s a token of gratitude for your participation in the monster hunt despite coming from so far away.”

“My! I’ve heard Pale Tree fruits are difficult to obtain these days, yet to receive such a generous gift of extract…”

Since I had more than enough Pale Tree fruits even after selling some to Tras, I prepared it without much thought, but seeing Leonard’s expression contort, I felt I had made the right decision.

With wings sprouting from my shoulders, it was time to soar.

I continued in the most respectful tone possible.

“Though this place is an exile where my father sent his unworthy son for punishment, it’s surrounded by trees, making the air pleasant and the scenery exquisite. You might enjoy taking a stroll here sometime when you have the chance.”

At my smooth-talking, Baron René broke into a broad smile.

“Haha, I understand. If I have time after the monster hunt, I’ll take a light stroll with our Seri.”

At Baron René’s words, Seri Familia, who had been silently listening to the conversation without moving, nodded slightly with a faint smile.

“I will follow my father’s wishes, of course.”

I swallowed hard at her gentle voice and turned my gaze toward her.

Seri Familia.

Her common black eyes somehow possessed both tranquility and mystery.

Her purple hair sparkled like glass, and her occasional smile was enough to make anyone lower their guard.

Well, that privilege wasn’t granted to me, who had read the novel.

The real face behind her thick mask was that of a madwoman who spent her nights procuring human corpses from the black market for her research.

Her line from the scene where she confronted the protagonist still echoed in my mind.

“My heart races whenever I see corpses and blood—what do you expect me to do about it?”

Of course, at this point in time, she would be researching monster corpses.

But unsatisfied with just that, she would eventually extend her hands to human corpses, making her mark in the lineage of madwomen in the novel.

And that’s not all.

Later, when even the black market couldn’t provide human corpses, she began committing murders.

The emergence of a truly historic villainess.

Men enchanted by her appearance would be lured to secluded places, silently killed, and when the number of missing persons gradually increased, she was caught by the protagonist who visited the Familia territory.

‘A female character I absolutely don’t want to be involved with.’

Since she had psychopathic tendencies from the beginning, I couldn’t hope for her redemption like Luna’s.

That’s why I had planned to just quietly serve as a guide during this joint monster hunt and only take care of my own interests.

But.

Wasn’t it quite interesting how my fourth brother, Leonard Alphonse, looked at Seri Familia?

I was already irritated by his constant interruptions throughout the conversation, acting all superior…

Perhaps I could get rid of Leonard without lifting a finger?

They say strike while the iron is hot.

Having spotted an opportunity, I twisted my posture to face Baron Byron.

“Father, isn’t my fourth brother about to have his coming-of-age ceremony soon?”

“Yes, he’s only a year older than you, so he’ll need to have it soon.”

“After the coming-of-age ceremony, marriage arrangements should follow. Have you found a suitable match for him?”

“Not yet. But why are you curious about that?”

“I too will have my coming-of-age ceremony next year. How could I look for a spouse when my older brother hasn’t even had his wedding yet?”

“That’s true. I’ve forgotten about it because Leonard has been so quiet.”

Baron Byron stroked his beard thoughtfully and turned his gaze toward Leonard.

“Leonard.”

“Y-yes, Father?”

“Is there someone you have in mind?”

“Regrettably, not yet…”

Yet his gaze kept darting toward Seri Familia.

Baron René, watching this scene with interest, joined the conversation.

“How about our Seri Familia?”

This man…

His perception is impressive!

The Pale fruit extract was worth it after all!

I barely managed to swallow the laughter escaping from the corners of my mouth.

But Baron Byron’s expression seemed uncomfortable.

He opened and closed his mouth as if he had something to say, then nodded.

“Of course, you’re always welcome, but I was thinking of pairing Selden with Seri Familia, not Leonard.”

W-what?

I clearly explained that Seri Familia was just a childhood crush, so why is he doing this to me?

I even offered the Pale fruit to the family and scored points!?

When I showed a bewildered expression, Baron Byron looked at me with a satisfied smile and winked.

I had an ominous feeling that he was seriously misunderstanding something.

‘At this rate, I’ll end up as the husband of a madwoman.’

With an awkward smile, I looked back and forth between Baron Byron and Baron René.

“I still have more than a year before my coming-of-age ceremony. And isn’t marriage primarily about the opinions of the parties involved?”

Baron Byron clicked his tongue as if wondering why I couldn’t accept what was being offered.

Fortunately, Baron René expressed admiration for my eloquence.

“Haha! You’re right, young man. In our time, marriages were for the benefit of families, but I don’t think our children need to follow such a bad custom. Don’t you agree, Baron Byron?”

“Well… that’s true.”

Come on, it’s obvious that Leonard is interested in Seri Familia, how can he not notice?

I wondered if he was aging backward.

And on top of that.

Leonard, like the fool he is, can’t even show his interest and seems to be waiting for the adults to spoon-feed him the opportunity.

No wonder he found it strange when I complimented Elina’s appearance.

Being so concerned with propriety that he can’t express his feelings to someone he likes, despite being just a nobleman and not royalty…

It’s a situation perfect for dying of frustration just by watching.

Despite my attempts to help connect Leonard and Seri Familia throughout the conversation, there wasn’t much meaningful progress.

In the end, having gained nothing, we finished our light luncheon and headed to the predetermined location for the joint monster hunt.

Since the area consisted of steep mountain ranges and rugged highlands, everyone dismounted and began walking.

“Hey, are there only this many monsters? This isn’t even a warm-up!”

Leonard glanced at Seri Familia again and gave me an arrogant look.

Sigh, this idiot…

Does he think monster hunting is some kind of competition to show off skills?

If he’d just stay quiet, they’d naturally pair him with Seri Familia, but every time he opens his mouth, he only hurts his own chances.

As infuriating as it was, what could I do?

At this rate, Baron Byron seemed determined to pair me with Seri Familia.

“Indeed, it seems the monsters are already intimidated by my brother’s swordsmanship.”

“Hahaha!! Of course, I’ve been called a sword prodigy since I was young!”

As the monster hunting time gradually drew to a close.

Baron Byron and Baron René were slicing through monsters like fish in water at the front, while Leonard, Familia, and I moved at a relatively leisurely pace at the rear.

“Father! That’s not the area I surveyed. It’s dangerous, the opposite side—”

“Hahaha!! It’s fine!! Hunting monsters is so refreshing!!”

“B-Baron René! If you go too far ahead, you’ll be separated from the group—”

“Don’t worry about me! I too am boiling with excitement after hunting monsters for the first time in a long while!”

If they were going to do whatever they wanted, why did they assign me the role of guide…

I felt pathetic for having seriously surveyed the area.

“Father!! I’m coming too!!”

Stimulated by Baron Byron and Baron René’s flashy swordsmanship, Leonard rushed from the rear to the front.

When I came to my senses, only Seri Familia and I were slightly separated from the group.

“Lady Seri, we should probably walk a bit faster.”

“Ah… yes.”

Crack-rumble!

Just as I was about to quicken my pace, I felt a piercing tremor from the ground.

The tremor gradually intensified until it became difficult to stand still.

‘An earthquake?’

Momentarily confused, I tried to maintain my composure and took a step forward to move away.

Boom! Crack-crack-crack!

My vision became jumbled, and I felt as if my body was being sucked down below the ground in an instant.

When I regained consciousness, my body was covered in dirt, and my mouth was full of dust.

“Cough!! Ptui!!”

Am I still alive, at least?

How far down did I fall?

Sigh…

Everyone got so excited about the monster hunt that they carelessly stepped on unsurveyed ground…

In a way, this outcome seemed inevitable.

Just as I was about to get up to check my surroundings, a familiar voice reached my ears.

“…Lord Selden, did only the two of us fall?”